The heart of our mission is to find the amazing souls that breathe life into our communities. In the recent weeks, we’ve had the privilege to connect with some incredible artists, creatives, entrepreneurs and rabble rousers and we can’t begin to express how impressed we are with the incredible group below. Check out our favorite stories from across the Voyage family.
Mott Leonino
Apprenticeship at “Tragicomica” Mask Shop in Venice, Italy, learning the Ancient Tradition of Papier Mache’ Mask making techniques. Other duties included Artwork, Sales and Set Decoration at a famous Palace on the Grand Canal for their annual Masquerade Ball for Carnavale Venezia. Read more>>
Doug LaRue
LaRue worked as a Medical Illustrator for the Texas A&M University College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences. His education continued in media design, illustration and photography through workshops offered to state agencies including the Guild of Natural Science Illustrators Advanced Airbrush workshops at the Smithsonian Institute of Natural History in Washington, D.C.. Read more>>
Adam Tyner
You have to be creative in your promotion & marketing, doing pop ups or in-stores with other like minded businesses. Also, there’s so much more competition these days. When I started out, I didn’t even know another personal chef! But if you stick with it, all those years you spent in your field become an asset & set you apart from your competitors. Read more>>
Katsiaryna Subach
I grew up in Pinsk, a warm corner of Belarus with about 120,000 people. It wasn’t the capital, it wasn’t a metropolis: no metro, no escalators, not even a McDonald’s. But it was home. My mother worked as a baker, my father as a mechanical engineer. Ours was an ordinary middle-class family. Read more>>
Jamar Whitehurst
Although I did not want to leave, I was not bitter because I knew ultimately God is in control and He would take care of me and my family. I was grateful & thankful for my time at Dell and always wanted to make sure I acknowledge how Dell helped me grow from a young kid out of college to the man I have become today. If it wasn’t for my time there, I may not have been able to start my own consulting firm helping small business and organizations with challenges they may be having. Read more>>
Jeremy Roye
He is also a winner of the $10,000 City of Austin Live Music Grant, recently finished a $20,000 Kickstarter campaign, and is a part of renowned licensing catalogs such as Soundsync Music, IndieFlow, and ZYX Music label. His “Daniel Johnston” sampled-track “True Love Will Find You in the End” was featured on HI HOW ARE YOU DAY’s livestream across college campuses nationwide in support of mental health awareness, and his last album was praised by KUTX 98.9’s Song-of-the-Day as a “lovechild between Bon Iver and Sylvan Esso”. Read more>>
Jose Contreras
My journey took me beyond borders. In 2010, I moved to Argentina, where I lived for a year and worked alongside renowned local artists. By 2012, thanks to the growing reach of social media, my work caught international attention, and I was invited as a guest artist in Lyon, France. Read more>>
William Moyer
While working with cancer patients as a nurse, many years ago, I witnessed volunteer patients who participated in a Guided Imagery study. The results I saw were amazing. The patients experienced better response to treatment, improved appetite, better pain management and an improved outlook on life despite their cancer battle. Read more>>
Diya Mankotia
When I was in 8th grade, I started struggling with an eating disorder. At such a young age, I felt utterly lost and confused: on one hand, I knew I was struggling with something, but on the other, the thought of putting a label on it felt terrifying—even more so reaching out for help and letting others know I was struggling. Read more>>
Micah Rynders
I got my first camera when I was 12. I was about to go to Mexico with my family and I wanted to be able to capture memories. I kept shooting photos after that trip and realized I was naturally good at it. I remember being proud of my own photos when I was a middle schooler. Read more>>
Nilam Patel
When I first started writing poetry it was for the sole purpose of healing. A deep trauma that I had never fully dealt with resurfaced and opened up all the scars I had halfway sewn up years ago. After I wrote my first poem, they just kept coming until writing became a large part of me and who I am. Read more>>
Stephen Frederico
When I was a biology major at the College of Charleston, I knew I wanted to become a neurosurgeon as this had been my dream for years, but I had very little guidance on how to get to medical school. Without strong premed advising, I had to rely on scattered information from the internet and learn the process largely on my own. Read more>>
Michael Notarthomas
I was born and raised in Syracuse, NY. I come from a musical family. My father played classical piano as a hobby. He would regularly fill our house and the street with the sounds of Chopin, Beethoven, Rachmaninoff, Bach and many others. Read more>>
Thu Trinh
Rise Dental started with a vision — to create a space where dentistry feels connected, intentional, and deeply human. We’ve been in this profession for over 25 years combined and have so much gratitude for the experiences that shaped us. Read more>>
Diana Pelallo
I grew up in California, and that’s really where my journey began. I earned my cosmetology license in 2017 and originally thought hair would be my path, but it turned out that wasn’t for me. While in beauty school, I decided to explore my options and took a lash extension course and instantly fell in love. Read more>>
Catherine Rotti
I started out as a strength and conditioning coach who loved seeing people get stronger, but I kept running into the same frustration. Clients would come back injured, even after seeing different providers like physical therapists, chiropractors, or massage therapists. They felt like their rehab never really prepared them to move again or get back to doing what they loved. Read more>>
Jessica Taylor
I’ve always loved all things beauty, so becoming a stylist felt natural for me. I am 20 years in and it’s still so rewarding. What I love most is that it’s never just about the hair, it’s about connecting with people. My ‘why’ is my amazing daughter Lucy. Read more>>
Rudy Lopez
I’m Rudy Lopez, and together with my wife, Linda Baier, we run 1626 Construction LLC. I’m the heart of the company and my story in construction goes way back. I started my career in the early 2000s in Las Vegas, working as a laborer and apprentice for a well-known Home-builder. Read more>>
LAUREN LITTLE
Absolutely! My name is Lauren Little, and I’m a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapy Associate here in Texas. Counseling is my second career after a ten-year stint working as a pediatric nurse. I primarily worked in oncology, where I witnessed how chronic illness and loss can ripple through an entire family system and community. Read more>>
Samuel Davis
My creative journey began around the age of three when my father introduced me to an art program on the computer, and I became obsessed — spending endless hours creating digital art. Soon after, I transitioned to paper and began sketching and drawing nonstop. Read more>>
Lindsey Vickers, SEP, LPC Associate, LMFT Associate
My love affair with horses began early in my life. My parents tried a few different sports with me in elementary school, but all I wanted to do was ride horses. I started taking horseback riding lessons at age eight and I never looked back. Read more>>
Stacey Nelson
I was born and raised in Marble Falls. I knew from a young age that I loved math and I loved a challenge. I started taking college classes while working full time and raising a family. Eventually, I graduated with a Bachelors in Business with Accounting Emphasis from St Edwards University in Austin. Read more>>
Savannah Stewart
Oddly enough, my profession found me! As a teen I saw myself working in the medical field treating autoimmune diseases with the ambition to find a cure for my grandmother who was surviving Scleroderma as long and best as she could. Read more>>
Katie Paterson
I became a massage therapist in 2019. I was at a point in my life where I needed a career change and wanted to be fulfilled in what I did after I came home from work. I had the most amazing massage therapist when I lived in Pennsylvania. Read more>>
Greg Whitfield
I grew up in Dallas, and my first musical memories involve listening to and singing along with the Everly Brothers. My mom was a pretty good harmony singer, and listening to her I learned to hear the third above the melody. I got my first guitar when I was six (a Silvertone from Sears – I still have it and still play it). Read more>>
Baliee Karnowski
I used to bake all the time with my grandma before she died. Once she passed, I stop baking for a while because it made me sad to think about her. During the pandemic, I was invited to go to a cookie decorating party by my mom. Read more>>
Daniela Arini
I was born in Sao Paulo, Brazil and at a very early age discovered my passion for baking . After graduating from a well known Pastry school in 2002, I started working at 5-star hotels, such as the Breakers in Palm Beach, Florida, and The Phoenician in Scottsdale, Arizona. Read more>>
Pablo Altamirano
My name is Pablo Altamirano, I came to the United States in 2003 with a dream of success. Starting as a dishwasher, I soon discovered my passion for cooking. Despite the language barrier, Thomas, my mentor, taught me everything he knew. I worked with him for 12 years and learned so much. Read more>>
Elias Olvera
I was born and raised in Austin Texas. At an early age I was exposed to Mexican music through my parents. My father was a Trio Romantico guitar player here in Austin and played many years with Manuel ‘Cowboy’ Donley. I started playing music in elementary school band and went to Wm. B Travis High School in Austin Texas. Read more>>
Mark Ramsey
There are two different sides of my business. As a performing musician, I sing, play piano, drums and guitar with several different bands, including Departure ATX, and a duo with my wife Brenda. I also teach piano, drums, and guitar in private lessons. My musical journey began with piano lessons at age 6. I played drums in the school band in Jr. Read more>>
Alex Parnell
My path started with a cross-country move from Eugene, Oregon to Waco, Texas, driven by dreams of becoming a doctor and helping people heal. Those dreams hit reality when I failed calculus twice—a clear sign that medicine wasn’t where I belonged. I moved forward with what interested me even though the career trajectory wasn’t clear yet. Read more>>
Kristi Baumbach
My professional story is full of twists and turns, stops and starts. I struggled to discover what I wanted to major in while attending Stephen F Austin in Nacogdoches (appropriately referred to as Nac-a-no-where, lol). I changed my major several times despite many professors/advisors recommending I visit the Social Work dept. Read more>>
Lauren Ricks
In my early twenties, I began my entrepreneurial journey through a network marketing company called Bodi. That experience opened my eyes to the possibilities of the online space—back when growing a business meant showing up on Facebook and YouTube, long before Instagram and TikTok even existed. Read more>>
Kacie Culotta
I’m Dr. Kacie Culotta, a proud Austinite of more than 20 years — one of those classic neighbors who came to UT as a student and never left. I met my spouse through the UT Texas 4000 Bike Charity, where we connected as fellow cyclists with a shared passion for health and community. Read more>>
Claire Jordan
From the time I was a kid, I loved writing. You couldn’t walk into my bedroom without finding scraps of paper tucked into corners — poems, little stories, whatever was on my mind. At Austin High School, I went on a career day visit to a local ad agency, and it completely lit me up. Read more>>
AUSTIN VOCAL STUDIO SILVIE RIDER YOUNG
Thanks so much for giving me the opportunity to introducing AUSTIN VOCAL STUDIO https://www.austinvocalstudio.com and myself , SILVIE RIDER YOUNG https://www.silvierideryoung.com Personally: Quote: ‘Without Music All Is Nothing’ , Albert Einstein I discovered the World of Sound on the piano with six years old, a TRUE great gift in my Life ! Read more>>
Luis Riojas
I grew up in the DFW area, in a town called Mesquite, where I was raised in a Christian household. Church was always part of my life, but it wasn’t until I was 15 years old that I made a personal decision to follow Jesus. After going through a difficult season—dealing with a breakup and losing close friends—I hit rock bottom. Read more>>
Candace Nixon
My career began in one of the least glamorous places imaginable, a cold-call sales center selling ads on websites that didn’t exist yet. Every day meant 200+ calls, regularly getting yelled at by a stranger on the phone, and the constant pressure to sell $15,000 worth of ads each month or risk being fired. Read more>>
Darius Nelms
I never aimed to become a professional barber. God literally put this in my life. I had other dreams and goals, but for the longest time, I didn’t understand “why” this was God’s plan for me. I had invested my time in college studying business and communications and did well. Read more>>
Anton Rybakov
My journey has always been about performance, resilience, and impact. I began as a breakdancer, competing for many years, which taught me discipline, creativity, and how to command a stage. Those lessons carried into my entrepreneurial path when I founded Fun Characters, a company dedicated to bringing joy and unforgettable memories to families across multiple cities. Read more>>
CARTELIA KENNEDY
My first career began in Education. As the first person in my immediate family to graduate college, I spent 14 years working in public education. During that time I earned a Master’s in Teacher Leadership, and obtained my K-12 principal certification. Naturally, my career path seemed to be leading me toward administration. Read more>>
John Vaughn
I was working in the corporate world and hating my life. I saw a video on YouTube of a woodworker making a table and I wanted to try it. I realized how expensive the kind of table he was making was, and I decided to start with cutting boards. I sold the first few and started doing markets, selling on Etsy, and to friends/family. Read more>>
Ashley Torres
From adventures to ambition—our story isn’t just about jewelry; it’s about heart, hustle, and creating something meaningful. We started out taking trips, exploring life, enjoying each other, and dreaming together. Those moments and feelings sparked ideas, conversations, and a realization: why not turn our passion and creativity into something bigger? That’s when Never-Ending Linx Permanent Jewelry was born. Read more>>
Mason Carmichael
I am the Senior Pastor of Jarrell Community Church, a church plant in Jarrell that launched on March 31st 2024. The journey to plant JCC began in 2019, when I was on staff at a church in Georgetown as a Youth Pastor. Read more>>
Rocky Stubblefield
Stubblefield’s BBQ really started as a family dream between my wife Ronda and me. We wanted to carry on the Stubblefield family legacy and share good food, love, and community — the same values I grew up around. I’m actually the grandson of Christopher B. “Stubb” Stubblefield — the legendary pitmaster and founder of the world-famous Stubb’s BBQ brand. Read more>>
Elias Olvera
I was born and raised in Austin Texas. At an early age I was exposed to Mexican music through my parents. My father was a Trio Romantico guitar player here in Austin and played many years with Manuel ‘Cowboy’ Donley. I started playing music in elementary school band and went to Wm. B Travis High School in Austin Texas. Read more>>
Joslyn Reed
Jos is a Southeast Texas native and Austin-based DJ who brings soul, energy, and intention to every set. She first discovered DJing when a coworker invited her to try a home setup, and soon they were practicing for hours every weekend. Encouraged to get her own starter board, Jos honed her skills and turned a passion into a career. Read more>>
Frankie Toneto
About a year ago, I came across a video of someone making photo magnets at home. Coming from an events and hospitality background, my first thought was: is anyone doing this live at events? When I realized they weren’t, I decided to figure out why and discovered there wasn’t a system that could receive and print guests’ photos in real time. Read more>>
David Kirkpatrick
At one point I gave up on pursuing my dream job. I gave up on myself. I saw all my friends get dream jobs with the same degree I had, forcing me to accept I had no else to blame but myself for my situation. I moved back in with my parents with shame, anger, and a chip on my shoulder. Read more>>
Lorena De Leon
With acceptances to the University of Texas and St. Edwards and now A&M Kingsville. I chose Kingsville. Life is not anything without its hard knocks. After two summer semesters, I decided to keep my pregnancy, so I stayed home with my parents to have my first daughter and be with her until the following Fall Semester after her birth. I went back to school, sometimes bringing her to class with me so that she could see me striving, thriving and working hard for the things I wanted for me and us. Read more>>
Morgan and Sydney Sereno and Rokas
Denise has built a beautiful and respected business that serves the Austin community and brings a trusted joy to so many families. Now that she is deciding to dedicate more of her time to her own family and primary career, we could not be more thrilled to continue her mission of providing memorable experiences for any occasion. Read more>>
Pingback: Homepage